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Alembic Club » Swap Shop and Wish Lists » Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere » Archive through August 30, 2015 » Distillate 4 string with Bigsby & EMG's « Previous Next »

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jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4615
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 3:50 pm:   Edit Post

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alembic-Distillate-Custom-4-String-Bass-with-Factory-Bigsby-Star-Inlays-/151776388105?hash=item235693e409

moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm

Post Number: 252
Registered: 8-2013
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 4:40 am:   Edit Post

Pretty cool! Love those Bigsby's
edwardofhuncote
Senior Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 505
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 5:18 am:   Edit Post

Pretty wood too! We've seen this one before... I remember the custom body shape. It's a shame someone routed out for those EMG's. Fixable, but still...

FWIW, it's the same seller with that beautiful Spoiler with the convertible fingerboards. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=151762982718&alt=web
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 4425
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 6:38 am:   Edit Post

The Spoiler I would do, but not that Bigsby Axe . I could see getting and sending the Spoiler to the " Mothership " for a new lined fretless fingerboard with hard finish treatment. :-).
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4617
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

That distillate would be good as a tenor bass.
plb445
New
Username: plb445

Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2015
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 5:42 pm:   Edit Post

I have been wondering about the Spoiler for a while. I sent an email to Alembic to get a ball park price on a new fret board, but I didn't get a response.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 8602
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 6:48 pm:   Edit Post

I can tell you that it will be pretty much impossible to quote for a new fingerboard without having the bass in hand - I'm certain this was modified after we built it, and so I don't have a frame of reference for the work.
edwardofhuncote
Senior Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 508
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 7:04 pm:   Edit Post

Found it... here's the last thread we had on this Bigsby-equipped Distillate. It seems to have appreciated some. =)

http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/207826.html?1427463114
flpete1uw
Senior Member
Username: flpete1uw

Post Number: 531
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 7:15 pm:   Edit Post

HA!!
I knew it looked familiar!
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 4426
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 7:20 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks , and there we have it . Yikes , (again ). I still cannot understand why someone installed those pickups . I can forgive that Bigsby , but why the pickups ?
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 4427
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 7:30 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks , and there we have it . Yikes , (again ). I still cannot understand why someone installed those pickups . I can forgive that Bigsby , but why the pickups ?
edwardofhuncote
Senior Member
Username: edwardofhuncote

Post Number: 515
Registered: 6-2014
Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

In the pictures (and kudos for extreme detailed pics) it doesn't look like the Bigsby was a retrofit. I don't see an extra set of holes for a bird tailpiece... and indeed it does *say* the tremolo is "factory". Since this was obviously someone's custom, it seems plausible.

I wouldn't personally have any use for a tremolo either, (it'd be super-funny to watch that!) but as Jazzyvee pointed out, this would be a perfect candidate for a tenor or piccolo bass.

The bigger issue for me would be justifying the $3k price tag knowing what work it'll take to replace those EMG's and leave the bass looking somewhat aesthetically presentable.

I'm a sentimental sap, and having been on the receiving end of the harsh realities of life and economic circumstances, I just hate seeing someone's custom Alembic up on the block. Hopefully this one eventually finds a good home.
sonofa_lembic
Member
Username: sonofa_lembic

Post Number: 89
Registered: 5-2014
Posted on Friday, August 14, 2015 - 2:46 pm:   Edit Post

I would love to do the restoration on this bass. Unfortunately, it was originally a one pickup model, and most likely a piccolo bass to start out. I would end up having to add a second pickup, and the circuit would have to be modified for the second pickup. The top and back are walnut. At $3K, the price tag is way too much a for a butchered Distillate, but if he cuts that by at least a third, it may be worth saving. It has plenty of dings dents and worming, so a lot of elbow grease has to go into the restoration, but it would be a fun project.

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